By: González of El Paso H.B. No. 3978 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to an application for an exception to the bilingual education program. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Section 29.054(c), Education Code, is amended to read as follows: (c) An exception shall be granted under this section on an individual district basis and is valid for three years [only one year]. Application for an exception for a second or succeeding period [year] must be accompanied by the documentation prescribed by Subsection (b). An application for an exception for a second or succeeding period may be for the same teacher or a different teacher as in a preceding period. SECTION 2. This Act applies beginning with the 2023-2024 school year. SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2023.